Centrifugal separator



April 4, 1939. H. o. f| |NDGREN CENTRIFUGAL SEPARAT'OR Filed June 3,1937 WITNESS.'

Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATORApplication June 3, 1937, Serial No. 146,172 In Germany June 11, 1936 7Claims.

cases becomes filled with solid particles veryv quickly, the bowl havingto be disassembled rather frequently for the removal of the depositedmatter. To remove the discharge pipe from the paring device each timethe bowl is disassembled is a troublesome and, in itself, unnecessaryjob.

According to the present invention, this inconvenience is avoidedbecause the paring device which is xed to a cover that is tiltablyarranged over the bowl communicates directly with a channel which isprovided in said cover and which communicates in known fashion throughthe hinged device of the cover with a fixed discharge pipe. With thisarrangement it is no longer necessary to remove the fixed pipe from theparing device each time the bowl is disassembled. If the supply pipealso communicates in a similar `manner througha channel provided in thecover with a supply nozzle projecting into the bowl, no pipe connections`need be dismounted when the bowl is disassembled.

In the foregoing statement it `was assumed Vthatthe centrifuge was apurifier andthat, therefore, only one liquid leaves the bowl. Whentreating some kinds of material, for instance, transformer oil or`lubricating oil, water is separated lin addition to the solid particleswhich `are deposited in the sludge space of the bowl. This water .isgenerally discharged from the bowl ,as .the heavier component. Incentrifugal separators of the present type, it is advantageous todischarge the heavier component as usual through a level outlet or othermore or less throttled free outlet channels. The heavier lquid leavingthe bowl, for` example, water, advantageously flows from a chamber,which is arranged in known manner in the cover and is 'provided with anoutlet.y As far as the water is concerned, no damage is caused if it isthrown out in atomized condition into the atmosphere surrounding thebowl. This is not the case, however, -With the discharging lighterliquid when a transformer or lubricating oil .is treated. Ow-

ing to the intimate contact with the air (the oil being thrown out in avery finely divided state) conditions are favorable for a quite rapidoxidation of the oil. It is, therefore, very important that it should bedischarged from the bowl in such a manner that it enters far less intocontact -with the air. This result is effected by using a paring deviceof the type referred to above, which extends into the layer of liquid inthe bowl.

The paring device, which can be removed from the centrifugal bowl onlywhen this is dismounted, should be detachably connected with the coverprovided above the bowl so that theV device can be easily removed fromthe cover and can remain in the bowl whenthe cover is tilted up.

In centrifugal separators for purifying oils and the like it isnecessary to have an arrangement which registers as soon as the sludgespace of the bowl has become filled to such a degree with `sludge thatthe purifying ability of the bowl is reduced, the pile of discs in thiscase being 4clogged by the sludge. In the open type of centrifuge, theregistering was simply obtained in the following way. When the liquidbeing ksupplied could no longer ilow the usual way owing to theaccumulation of sludge, it overiiowed the edge of the central tube ofthe bowl and was then usually collected in a special .chamber in thecover of the centrifuge, and was then allowedto flow past a window orinspection glass or was made visible in some other way. In centrifugesof the present type in which the lighter liquid is discharged by aparing device projecting into the bowl, the central tube inv the bowlmust end below the paring device, and it is therefore, very difiicult toarrange an outlet for the purpose referred to at the upper part of thecentral tube. According to the present invention, this outlet isarranged instead in the bottom of the bowl and consists of a channelthrough which the chamber in the distributor communicates with thechamber surrounding the bowl. 'The channel advantageously begins in theimmediate neighborhood of the spindle so that generally no liquid flowsout therethrough. Only when the resistance to flow in the bowl hasb-ecome sufficiently great, owing to the accumulation of sludge, willthe liquid 4level in the distributor and `in the overflow channel bedisplaced so -far inwardly that liquid begins to discharge through thechannel. This n the bowl and the paring device, but it suces to effectdisassembly to such extent that all other parts may be removed from thebowl body, which remains in the frame of the machine. To take apart thebowl top, the discs, the distributor and the paring device separatelywould be unnecessary work. In accordance with the present invention,after the lock ring of the bowl has been unscrewed it is possible tolift out all the parts with the aid of the distributor, as they are allmounted on this central part. In order to facilitate the removal of thedistributor it is, according to the present invention, provided with athreaded portion into whichv a lifting tool can be inserted. This tool,which is advantageously arranged to press against the upper rim of thebowl body, must have a small diameter as it should be introduced intothe supply nozzle, which is arranged in the center and fixed to theparing device. According to the present invention the threads are,therefore, located on the conveyor wings of the distributor, the wingsfor this purpose extending toward the center of the bowl. Each wing isprovided with teeth like a rack, the teeth engaging with the threads ofthe tool.

The attainment of the above results and other objects of the invention,relating particularly to details of construction, will become apparentfrom the following description read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, in which the figure is an axial section through the improvedseparator.

40 is the body of the bowl of the centrifuge, 4I its removable top and42 a lock ring by means of which the top may be secured to the body.

I and 2 are two chambers, respectively provided for the supply and fordischarge of separated matter and are arranged in the cover 3 of thecentrifuge. The chamber I communicates on one side with a Xed supplypipe (not shown) through a channel 4 in the cover 3 and a hollow hinge5, and on the other side with a supply nozzle 8 in the centrifugethrough openings 6 in a sleeve 1. The chamber 2 communicates with thefixed discharge pipe (not shown) through a channel 9, shown in dottedlines, in the cover 3, and a second hinge connection of the typepreviously described. On the other side, the chamber 2 communicates witha paring disc I3 through an annular chamber II) and an annular channelII arranged in a part I2 which is detachably but tightly connected tothe cover, the said paring disc I3 projecting some way into the rotatingmass of liquid contained in a paring chamber I4 which is arranged in theupper part of the bowl top 42.

The sleeve 'I is provided with a hand wheel I5 by which it may berotated, the threads I3 thereby causing the supply nozzle 8 to be pulledupwards. The nozzle 8 is tightly and rigidly fixed to the part I2, whichhas a conical shape and is provided with packing rings Il' and I8 lyingin grooves and contacting with corresponding conical surfaces on thecover 3. The angle of the sides of this cone with the center line is, asshown on the drawing, greater than the least angle of movement of theadjacent portion of the tiltable cover, thereby insuringimmediateclearance when the cover begins to tilt. The nozzle 8 and the lparingdisc I3 are thus detachably connected to the cover 3 and remain in thebowl when the hand wheel I5 is screwed upwardly and off. This is anecessary condition if the cover 3 is to be tilted upwardly on the hinge5. After the cover has been tilted up a threaded tool is introduced inthe nozzle 8 and screwed into the threads which are formed by a numberof teeth I9 on the conveyor wings 2li, and is thus engaged with thedistributor 2| so that after removing the lock ring 42 of the bowl thedistributor, with the aid of the tool, can be lifted out of the bowlbody together with the discs, the bowl top, the parer and the nozzle.

In the lower part of the bowl body a channel 23 extends through the bowlnave to the immediate proximity of the spindle 24'. The spindle isprovided with a sleeve 25 which protects it from the action of theliquid discharged from the channel 23. Between the opening of thechannel 23 in front of the spindle and the lining 25, there is a chamber26 which forms a continuation of the channel 23.

The discharge of the heavier liquid is controlled by a regulating disc21. Instead of this disc,

Ithere might be provided the usual equivalents,

for example, a regulating screw or an outlet throttled by an adjustablescrew or a replaceable nozzle.

If liquid should accidentally leak out of the paring chamber I4, it iscollected in the chamber 32 in the cover 3, whence it can be discharged.through the outlet spout 29, which may be provided with a cock asindicated. Any liquid leaking out at the tightening ring providedbetween the bowl top and the bowl body is collected in a chamber 3Uarranged in the upper part of the bowl housing and provided with anoutlet 3| which may or may not be provided with a cock. Any leakage atthe places referred to is thus shown by the fact that the liquid flowsout of the outlets 29 or 3|.

Clogging of the sludge space of the bowl is indicated by discharge ofliquid through channel 23.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A centrifugal machine comprising a bowl and a paring chamber aboveand rotatable with the bowl, a machine frame, a cover hinged to saidframe, a paring device positionable within the paring chamber, a supplynozzle and means,

independent of the cover and accessible from above the same and engagingthe supply nozzle, to properly position the paring device within theparing chamber, said means being detachable to allow the cover to swingupward and, after the cover is so lifted, permit the withdrawal of thesupply nozzle and paring device.

2. A centrifugal machine comprising a bowl and a pairing chamber aboveand rotatable with the bowl, a machine frame, a cover hinged to theframe, a paring device adapted to enter the paring chamber, a supplynozzle which, with the paring device, is detachably supported from thecover, the paring device and cover having opposing surfaces adapted whencontacted to form a sealed joint, said joint being of a conical form ofsuch wide angle that, when the nozzle and paring device are detachedfrom the cover, lifting of the cover on its hinge causes immediateclearance at all points.

3. A centrifugal machine comprising a bowl and a paring chamber, a coverhinged to the frame on two hinged joints, a paring device adapted toenter the paring chamber, a supply nozzle which, with the paring device,is detachably supported from the cover, the paring device and coverhaving opposing surfaces adapted when contacted to form a sealed joint,said joint being of a conical form of such wide angle that, when thenozzle and paring device are detached from the cover, lifting of thecover on its hinge causes immediate clearance at all points, the coverhaving passages and chambers providing communication respectively fromone hinged joint to the supply nozzle and from the parer to the otherhinged point.

4. A centrifugal machine comprising a bowl and a paring chamber aboveand rotatable with the bowl, a hinged cover, a central supply nozzledetachably carried by the cover and adjustable upward thereon, a paringdevice carried by the supply nozzle and forming therewith a unit, meansproviding passages in said cover for liquid flowing to said nozzle andfor liquid removed by the paring device, said paring device and coverhaving opposed surfaces decreasing in diamter from the bottom to the topadapted, when contacted by upward adjustment of the nozzle, to form ajoint of such wide angle that, when the nozzle with the paring devicecarried thereby is detached from the cover, swinging of the cover upwardabout its hinge causes immediate clearance at all points.

5. A centrifugal machine comprising a bowl, a hinged cover having acentral opening, a hand wheel loose on said cover having a hub extendinginto said opening, a central supply nozzle detachably supported fromsaid hub and movable upward by manipulation of the hand wheel, a paringdevice carried by the supply nozzle, the paring device and cover havingopposing conical surfaces adapted to form a sealed joint when the supplynozzle is moved upward, the detachment of the hand wheel from the nozzleallowing the cover to swing out of engagement with the paring device.

6. A centrifugal machine comprising a bowl shell, its removable top andlock ring, a hinged cover, a central supply nozzle detachable from thecover, a paring device carried by said nozzle, a distributor extendinginto the bowl chamber, a set of discs carried by the distributor, saidcover and paring device having opposed surfaces adapted when contactedto form a sealed joint, said joint being of a conical form of such wideangle that, when the nozzle is detached from the cover, lifting of thecover on its hinge causes immediate clearance at all points, saiddistributor being provided with tool-engageable means, thereby allowinga tool to be inserted through said nozzle into engagement with thedistributor and, with the cover lifted and the lock ring removed, permitthe distributor, the parer, the discs, and the bowl top to be handled asa unit.

7. A centrifugal machine comprising a bowl shell, its removable top andlock ring, a paring device, a supply nozzle carrying the paring device,a distributor extending into the bowl chamber, a set of discs carried bythe distributor, a machine frame, a cover hinged to the frame, means,accessible from above the cover and engaging the supply nozzle, toproperly position the paring device, said means being detachable toallow the cover to swing upward and allow the lock ring to be removed,said distributor being provided with tool-engaging means to therebyallow a tool to be inserted through said nozzle into engagement with thedistributor and, after the cover is so swung upward and the lock ringremoved, permit the distributor, the parer, the discs and the bowl topto be handled as a unit.

HANS OLOF LINDGREN.

